THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 1, 1994 TAG: 9410010298
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Last-minute efforts to save a federally funded peanut research facility from the budget ax failed Friday.
The unit, part of the Virginia Tech Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Holland, will close as planned, said Daniel J. Sheehan, a legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb.
Robb and other Virginia legislators - U.S. Sen. John W. Warner and U.S. Reps. Norman Sisisky and Robert C. Scott - had asked Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy last week to review the decision to close the unit.
Local peanut farmers, industry officials and the 11 employees of the facility waited hopefully all week, despite Friday's scheduled closing.
Word came Friday evening after the researchers had gone home. ``After reviewing the legislative history and the budget history, they decided to close it,'' Sheehan said.
The federal officials would like the state to take over funding of the unit, he said.
The unit, one of 19 across the country to close, will remain open during a short transition period to offer the employees relocation opportunities, Sheehan said.
Details will be worked out with state officials next week, he said.
Glen Heuberger, director of the research facility, said he hoped the transition would allow time for the federal employees to conclude research on the crops being harvested in September and October. by CNB